Fig. 3 | Scientific Reports

Fig. 3

From: Factors influencing bacterial viability on face masks and bactericidal effect of disinfection methods

Fig. 3The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Effect of contamination on the viability of bacteria inoculated on face mask pieces. Bacteria were inoculated on face mask pieces in the presence of contaminants and incubated at 37 °C for 1 day. (A) Artificial sweat and artificial sebum solutions, (C) artificial saliva and peptone water, and (E) foundation powder and squalene were used to contaminate Staphylococcus aureus inoculated on face mask pieces. (B) Artificial sweat and artificial sebum solutions, (D) artificial saliva and peptone water, and (F) foundation powder and squalene were used to contaminate S. epidermidis on face mask pieces. PBS: phosphate-buffered saline. Control: inoculum suspended in PBS in microtubes. *p < 0.05 vs. PBS. CFU: colony-forming unit, n.s.: no significant difference.

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